Man, 35, Arrested For Allegedly Punching Gas Station Clerk In Face Over Cigar

LAKEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A 35-year-old Long Beach man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a female gas station clerk in Lakewood last month.

Kendrick Ruth was taken into custody Wednesday at a Long Beach motel and booked on suspicion of robbery and assault, according to Lt. Minh Dinh of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station. He’s being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The incident, which was caught on camera, happened around 1:15 p.m. Sept. 7 at a Chevron station at 4910 Lakewood Boulevard.

A 23-year-old woman named “Yadira” said the suspect handed her a $1 bill for a $1.41 Swisher Sweets cigar.

“He just says, ‘Well, this is all I have…(expletive) whatever.’ And I was like, ‘You need to get out of the store.’ I was like, ‘I’m sorry.’ And he tries to snatch it,” said Yadira.

The victim said that’s when the suspect punched her in the face, injuring her eye.

“It just happened so fast. My reaction, I didn’t think he would hit me. And he just socks me,” Yadira said.